Tag: Arts

As we continue to slip down the slope of sociopolitical turbulence, it is an act of self-care to reserve space for art that reminds us of gold beneath the rubble. It is important to hold space for art that invites us to rise. In September 2016, singer-songwriter Solange Knowles graced us with her third studio album, A Seat at the Table, and as a result, affirmed my presence during a time where I felt invisible … READ MORE

In the anthology Bawajigan (Anishinaabemowin for Dream) editors are gathering fictional stories about what it means to dream and be Indigenous, how dreams weave their way through our realities, how they impact history, lived experience, and the stories we tell each other and the world. READ MORE

An inclusive and enriching program, Sister Writes’ Creative Writing Bootcamp for Transwomen is a two-day intensive writing experience. Practice writing in a variety of genres, receive mentorship from professional authors, write and share stories in a supportive group environment, co-create a literary magazine, and collaborate with professional artists. Join Sister Writes on Saturday October 22 and Saturday 29th, 3:30 – 7:30 pm, at The 519.
Register by writing to donna@sisterwrites.com.
About Sister Writes:
Since 2010, Sister Writes … READ MORE

With a bit of time and perspective, I realized I’d never want any of my friends to feel helpless when it came to their health and their body like that. So I quit the program and decided I had to shift my focus away from all the confusion instead of trying to figure it all out and try to become a different person—that way just felt impossible. READ MORE

CONTENT WARNING: This blog contains references to gendered violence.
As someone who works in the arts, I have always questioned the role ‘art’ plays in our lives. Especially as a theatre artist, I question what is the role of theatre in society? I see performance as part of our everyday lives. We perform our relationships to each other, which are based and impacted by power dynamics that already exist. Theatre, in particular, is a space in … READ MORE

Chances are you’re familiar with Against Me! or Laura Jane Grace. The punk band and their frontwoman have been around for a while and have been gaining exposure in queer and trans communities due to Grace’s activism and status as a role model. But Against Me! are far from the only punk band talking about transgender and genderqueer topics and inspiring listeners to listen to their gender nonconformist hearts. Inspired by my love for their album Transgender Dysphoria Blues and attending a recent Against Me! gig, I went searching for more voices and found angry, political rock music that tells individual stories of gender rejection as unique as the people playing it. READ MORE

As I continue to search for positive depictions of people of size on stage and screen, I’ve come up with several more examples. As a reminder, to pass Denise’s Test the character of size must be treated like any other person on the show. They might be villains or heroes and they might be loved or loathed by the audience, but they’re not there in the context of a stereotype or joke. They’re not a) a stock “villainous glutton” or a related trope; b) they’re not the token “funny fat guy” who exists only for comic relief, and c) their existence is neither defined nor dominated by obsession or contentious relationships with food. Part 2 continues to focus on people of size that appear as main or supporting characters. READ MORE

Now that winter is starting to settle in, I’m trying to cope by thinking of warmer times. As I bask in memories of this past summer, I think mostly of my warm and sunny week in Halifax, performing in the Queer Acts Theatre Festival. During the festival’s conference portion, we discussed the state of queer theatre in Canada, the trend of the one-person show and about the experiences of queer women in theatre.
The latter section … READ MORE

Art Show Review: Anatomy of a Protest
Wendy Coburn
Justina M. Barnicke Gallery
University of Toronto
I recently visited the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery at Hart House, University of Toronto (7 Hart House Circle) and caught a wicked moment in time/art show/herstorical perspective on a very recent and important protest in Toronto history. The art exhibit, Anatomy of a Protest by Wendy Coburn, stars the recent and gone-global protest, the first Slut Walk ever (held in Toronto in … READ MORE

Skittlez Gunn’s first of 3 posts on becoming a professional artist as a young woman. Skittlez shares her journey of pursuing art as a career, debunks myths about becoming an artist and post-secondary education, and encourages other young women and trans youth to overcome their fears and follow their art! READ MORE

Masala Militia is a year-old Toronto-based, feminist-oriented online magazine, zine, and movement focusing on a variety of topics affecting self-identified brown girls and women of the brown diaspora. READ MORE